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United States Patent |
6,151,911
|
Dando
,   et al.
|
November 28, 2000
|
Relating to cooling containers of beverages
Abstract
A beverage pack comprises a container (28), beverage (41) held in the
container (28), and beverage cooling means (10) provided in, or in
association with, the container (28) and comprising a phase-change medium
(22) such as water adapted in use to change phase and thus extract heat
from the beverage. Adsorption or absorption means (20) such as activated
carbon, ammonium nitrate, and a polymer may be provided to adsorb or
absorb the phase-change medium (22). The phase-change medium may be
arranged to vaporize into a vaporization chamber (26) at sub-atmospheric
pressure.
Inventors:
|
Dando; William (Derbyshire, GB);
Lawrence; John (Birmingham, GB)
|
Assignee:
|
Bass Public Limited Company (GB)
|
Appl. No.:
|
235847 |
Filed:
|
January 22, 1999 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
Current U.S. Class: |
62/457.3; 62/371; 62/480 |
Intern'l Class: |
F25D 003/08 |
Field of Search: |
62/480,457.3,371
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
4736599 | Apr., 1988 | Siegel | 62/480.
|
4928495 | May., 1990 | Siegel | 62/480.
|
5079932 | Jan., 1992 | Siegel | 62/480.
|
5154067 | Oct., 1992 | Tomizawa et al. | 62/480.
|
5692381 | Dec., 1997 | Garrett | 62/480.
|
5732569 | Mar., 1998 | Sanada et al. | 62/480.
|
Primary Examiner: Doerrler; William
Assistant Examiner: Shulman; Mark
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Foley & Lardner, Rechtin; Michael D.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A beverage pack comprising a container defining a chamber, beverage held
in the chamber of the container, and beverage cooling means provided in
the chamber of the container and comprising means selected from the group
consisting of adsorption means and absorption means and a phase-change
medium adapted in use to change phase and extract heat from the beverage.
2. A beverage pack according to claim 1, wherein a cooling unit is provided
which defines a vaporisation chamber into which said phase-change medium
is arranged to vaporise.
3. A beverage pack according to claim 1, wherein the cooling means
comprises an in-container device.
4. A beverage pack according to claim 1 wherein isolation means is provided
to isolate the one of the adsorption means and absorption means from the
phase change medium until the cooling means is activated.
5. A beverage pack according to claim 1, wherein actuation means for
activating the cooling means is arranged to operate upon opening of the
container, for example, by responding to a change in pressure consequent
upon opening of the container.
6. A beverage pack comprising a container, beverage held in the container,
and beverage cooling means provided in, or in association with, the
container and comprising a phase-change medium adapted in use to change
phase and extract heat from the beverage, and means selected from the
group consisting of adsorption means and absorption means provided in use
to adsorb or absorb the phase-change medium, the one of the adsorption
means and absorption means being one or more of: activated carbon,
ammonium nitrate, and a polymer.
7. A beverage pack according to claim 1 wherein one of the adsorption means
and the absorption means comprises a substance which one of adsorbs and
absorbs vapor without getting hot.
8. A beverage pack according to claim 1, wherein the phase change medium is
aqueous.
9. A beverage pack according to claim 2, wherein a sub-atmospheric pressure
is provided in the cooling means above the phase change medium.
10. A beverage pack according to claim 8, wherein said sub-atmospheric
pressure and said phase change medium are so selected that, when at such
pressure, said phase change medium boils at a temperature not exceeding
20.degree. C.
11. A beverage pack according to claim 1 wherein the one of the adsorption
means and the absorption means is provided in a detachable cartridge.
12. A cooling unit adapted for placement into a chamber defined by a
container to cool beverage in the chamber of the container, the unit
comprising a phase change medium adapted to change phase and extract heat
from the beverage and means selected from the group consisting of
adsorption means and absorption means.
13. A method of cooling a beverage disposed in a chamber defined by a
container including a beverage cooling means disposed in the chamber and
having a phase change medium and means selected from the group consisting
of adsorption means and absorption means, the method comprising extracting
heat from the beverage by use of a phase change of the phase change
medium.
14. A beverage pack comprising a container defining a chamber, the beverage
held in the chamber of the container, and beverage cooling means provided
in the chamber of the container and comprising means selected from the
group consisting of adsorption means and absorption means and an aqueous
phase-change medium adapted in use to change phase and extract heat from
the beverage.
15. The beverage pack of claim 14, further comprising isolation means
configured to isolate one of the adsorption means and the absorption means
from the phase-change medium until the cooling means is activated.
16. The beverage pack according to claim 14, further comprising actuation
means for activating the cooling means, wherein the actuation means is
arranged to operate upon opening of the container.
17. A beverage pack comprising a container the beverage held in the
container, and beverage cooling means provided in, or in association with,
the container and comprising an aqueous phase-change medium adapted in use
to change phase and extract heat from the beverage, and means selected
from the group consisting of adsorption means and absorption means
configured to one of adsorb and absorb the phase-change medium, the one of
the adsorption means and the absorption means being provided in a
detachable cartridge.
18. A beverage pack comprising a container defining a chamber, the beverage
held in the chamber of the container, and beverage cooling means provided
in the chamber of the container and comprising an aqueous phase-change
medium adapted in use to change phase and extract heat from the beverage
and means selected from the group consisting of adsorption means and
absorption means, a sub-atmospheric pressure provided in the cooling means
and said phase-change medium are so selected that, when at such pressure,
said phase-change medium boils at a temperature not exceeding 20.degree.
C.
19. The beverage pack of claim 18, further comprising isolation means
configured to isolate one of the adsorption means and the absorption means
from the phase-change medium until the cooling means is activated.
20. A beverage pack comprising:
a container, the beverage held in the container; and
beverage cooling means provided in, or in association with, the container
and comprising, a phase-change medium adapted in use to change phase and
extract heat from the beverage, and means selected from the group
consisting of adsorption means and absorption means provided in use to one
of adsorb and absorb the phase-change medium, the one of the adsorption
means and the absorption means provided in a detachable cartridge.
21. The beverage pack of claim 20, wherein the phase-change medium is
aqueous.
22. The beverage pack of claim 20, further comprising isolation means
configured to isolate the one of the adsorption means and the absorption
means from the phase-change medium until the cooling means is activated.
23. The cooling unit of claim 12, wherein the phase-change medium is
aqueous.
24. The cooling unit of claim 12, wherein a sub-atmospheric pressure is
provided in the cooling unit above the phase-change medium.
25. The cooling unit of claim 24, wherein the sub-atmospheric pressure and
the phase-change medium are selected such that, the phase-change medium
boils at a temperature not exceeding 20.degree. C.
Description
This invention relates to cooling containers of beverages, such as for
example cans of beer or other fermented liquor or of soft drinks.
There have been proposals to cool cans of beer using in-can devices, or
external devices applied to cans.
According to a first aspect of the invention we provide a beverage pack
comprising a container, beverage held in the container, and, beverage
cooling means provided in, or in association with, the container and
comprising a phase-change medium adapted in use to change phase and
extract heat from the beverage.
Preferably adsorption or absorption means is provided in use to adsorb or
absorb the phase-change medium.
Preferably a cooling unit is provided and defines a vaporisation chamber,
said phase-change medium vaporising into said chamber in use. The
adsorption or absorption means is preferably provided so as to be
communicable with said chamber. The cooling unit may comprise an in-can
(or in-container) device.
Isolation means is preferably provided to isolate the adsorption or
absorption means from the phase change medium until the cooling unit is
activated via actuation means.
The actuation means may comprise a manually operable member, which may be a
separate from any container-opening means that may be provided, or the
actuation means may be arranged to operate upon opening of the container.
For example, when the container is pressurised the cooling unit may be
actuated by the change in pressure in the container that occurs upon
opening the container.
The beverage preferably contains dissolved gas, such as carbon dioxide
and/or nitrogen The beverage may be a malt or other fermented liquor such
as beer, lager, ale, stout, porter, cider, or the like, or it may be a low
alcohol or non-alcoholic drink.
The isolation means may comprise a valve, which may be openable and
closable, or it may comprise an openable barrier which cannot be closed
again (e,g. a rupturable membrane).
The adsorption or absorption means may be activated carbon, or ammonium
nitrate, or a polymer. There are substances which can adsorb/absorb vapour
without getting hot, and we prefer to have the adsorption means be one of
these.
Preferably the phase change medium comprises water. The phase change medium
may be substantially 100% water.
There may be low pressure provided in the cooling means above the phase
change medium. There may be the adsorption or absorption means spaced from
and separated from the phase change medium by a barrier (isolation means),
and there may be low pressure either in the space between adsorption or
absorption means and the barrier, or between the barrier and the phase
change medium, or in both spaces. A closed housing, or other member, may
enclose the operative components of the cooling means.
A low pressure above a liquid makes it vaporise more readily (e.g. at room
temperature).
By "low pressure" we snean below-atmospheric pressure, and preferably
substantially below atmospheric pressure. In many embodiments of the
invention "low pressure" is a pressure low enough so that the phase change
medium boils at temperatures experienced by a beverage in a can at room
temperature (say, 20.degree. C.) and even more preferably such that the
liquid boils at 10.degree. C., or 5.degree. C., or even 2.degree. C. or
less (and even at sub zero temperatures). "Low pressure" may be vacuum, or
practically vacuum.
We may provide a self-contained cartridge retained within a can of beverage
(or other container of beverage), the self-contained cartridge possibly
comprising a housing, adsorbent material retained in the housing, and an
openable barrier provided in the housing and separating the water from the
adsorbent material. There may be a space defined between the barrier and
the water and/or the barrier and the adsorbent material, which space (or
spaces) may contain a below atmospheric pressure gas, or be substantially
evacuated.
We can control the amount of cooling by controlling how much phase change
medium we use and/or how much adsorption/absorption means we use.
Preferably the pressure is simply low enough to achieve rapid vaporisation
of the liquid once the pressure of liquid vapour above the liquid is
reduced (by adsorption).
The pressure in an unactivated cooling device above the liquid may be the
partial pressure of that liquid at the temperature concerned.
A desiccant may be used in addition to or, instead of the adsorption means.
If we can use something which has an endothermic reaction when it
adsorbs/absorbs water this effect can also be used to cool the contents of
the container. Ammonium nitrate is cheap and has an endothermic reaction.
We may provide ammonium nitrate in the adsorption means, at least as one
component.
The cooling unit may comprise an elongate member, such as a tube, with the
phase change medium provided well spaced from the adsorption means (e.g.
at opposite ends of the elongate member). This may help to avoid liquid,
in liquid form, accidentally contacting the adsorption means and being
adsorbed without first being vaporised (and extracting heat).
Alternatively or additionally we may provide a "splash protector" which
allows the passage of vapour but restricts or prevents the passage of
liquid. A baffle, or series of baffles may do this. It may be possible to
have a "no-wetting" device which protects the adsorption means from direct
contact with liquid but allows vapour to pass. This could be useful should
a user activate the cooling unit and then knock the can (or other
container) over, or invert it. The "no-wetting" device may keep the
adsorption/absorption means dry for only a few seconds or tens of seconds,
or it may keep it dry for hours or days (when liquid would otherwise
contact the adsorption means).
We may provide thermal insulation adjacent the adsorption means. We may
provide a thermal insulating barrier in the wall that defines the
vaporisation chamber. We prefer to have a good thermal conduction (e.g.
metal) between the phase change medium (liquid) and the beverage, so as to
facilitate heat extraction from the beverage.
The adsorption/absorption means may be provided in a cartridge, preferably
a detachable cartridge. The cartridge may be adapted to be re-used after a
re-activating operation (e.g. after beating it to drive out the phase
change medium (e.g. water)). The cartridge may be re-attachable to the
unit for re-use.
The cooling unit may be attached to the top wall of a container, or the
bottom wall, or a side wall, or may be loose inside the container, e.g.
free-floating.
According to a second aspect of the invention we provide a cooling unit
adapted to cool beverage in a container, the unit comprising a phase
change medium adapted to change phase and extract heat from the beverage.
The container may be a closed container, or the unit may be adapted to be
inserted into an open or opened container (e.g. an opened can, or into a
glass of beverage). The container may be a keg of "beer".
Preferably the unit comprises a closed chamber, preferably having
adsorption or absorption means separated from the phase change medium by
openable isolation means. When the isolation means is opened and the
adsorption or absorption means is in communication with vapour from the
phase change medium these phase change media may experience a pressure
which is such that the phase change medium vaporises (vaporises enough to
get significant cooling), and preferably boils, at 20.degree. C. or less,
15.degree. C. or less, (0.degree. C. or less, 5.degree. C. or less, about
0.degree. C., or less).
According to a third aspect of the invention we provide a kit comprising at
least one, and preferably a plurality of, beverage containers containing a
beverage, and at least one cooling unit.
It will be appreciated that although we have discussed cooling beverages,
and that is our main area of intended use, the invention is applicable to
cooling other foodstuffs (e.g. ice-cream, yoghurt etc.). We seek
protection for such a broader invention.
The invention may even be used to heat drinks or foodstuffs. If we use the
heat that may be generated by adsorption instead of viewing it as
undesirable, we could provide a beater instead of a cooler. Possibly by
dipping an end of a beat transfer device ("cooling unit") into room
temperature water, evaporating water trapped in the low pressure chamber
and using the heat at the adsorption end produced during re-condensation
to heat a substance to be heated).
We may not adsorb or absorb the heat transfer medium. It may escape to
atmosphere, or it may be removed from the vaporisaiion chamber (to allow
more liquid to vapour phase change to occur) and be stored in storage
means which may or may not adsorb or absorb (and may re-condense).
According to another aspect of the invention we provide a method of cooling
a beverage in a container comprising extracting heat from the beverage to
cause a phase change of phase change medium.
Preferably the method further comprises providing a sealed chamber and
providing the phase change medium in that chamber. The chamber may be at a
low pressure, or evacuated. The chamber may have adsorption or absorption
means which extracts vapour from the atmosphere inside the chamber,
tending to reduce the pressure in the chamber, which tends to cause more
vapour to be created from the liquid (or solid) phase change medium,
thereby extracting heat.
The method may comprise providing a substantially evacuated region in the
sealed chamber and initiating the cooling operation by allowing the pbase
change medium, or vapour from it, access to what was previously evacuated
region.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only
with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
FIG. 1 shows a beverage cooling unit for use with a can of beverage;
FIG. 2 shows a can of beer provided with the beverage cooling device of
FIG. 1:
FIG. 3 shows a modified beverage cooling device;
FIG. 4 shows a can of beverage provided with another cooling device;
FIGS. 5-6 show more detail of the cooling device of FIG. 4;
FIG. 7 shows another can of beverage fitted with a modified cooling device;
FIGS. 8-9 show more details of the modified cooling device of FIG. 7;
FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate an alternative cooling device/can;
FIG. 12 shows a cooling device provided with insulation inside external
closure walls;
FIG. 13 shows a cooling device with insulation provided outside an external
closure wall;
FIG. 14 shows the cooling device with an adsorbent/absorbent insert
cartridge;
FIG. 15 shows the cooling device with an openable barrier provided adjacent
adsorbent/absorbent material;
FIG. 16 shows an alternative shape for the cooling device;
FIG. 17 shows another alternative shape for a cooling device, and an
alternative place of mounting it in a can;
FIG. 18 shows a cooling device mounted on the base of a can;
FIG. 19 shows a combined cooling device and head-generation widget adapted
for retention in the can;
FIG. 20 shows a separate cooling device adapted for manual insertion into
the can;
FIG. 21 shows a pack of twelve cans in a box with two cooling devices;
FIG. 22 shows a further cooling device, but with a removable cartridge at
one end; and
FIGS. 23a and 23b show a way of operating/actuating a cooling device.
Beverage cooling means constituted as a unit 10 is shown in FIG. 1 and
comprises a cylindrical body wall 12, an upper closure wall 14, and a
lower closure wall 16. The walls 12, 14, 16 form a sealed chamber 18.
Provided in the chamber 18 at the upper end is a body of adsorbent
material 20, in this case carbon. At the bottom end of the chamber 18 is a
small volume of liquid water 22, and an isolating barrier 24 is provided
between the water and the carbon. Between the water and the isolating
barrier there is the vapour pressure of the water vapour given off by the
liquid water 22. The space above the water is initially substantially
evacuated during manufacture, and so the water vapour pressure above the
water in an unactuated device is low. Between the barrier 24 and the
carbon 20 there is a vacuum region, e.g. a sub-atmospheric pressure or
low-grade vacuum region 26. The walls 12, 14, 16 are made of metal (e.g.
steel or aluminium). They are preferably coated on the external surface,
and/or on the inside surface, with a lacquer to prevent attack by
beverage.
In use, at least the lower portion of the unit 10, and probably most of the
unit 10 (if not all) will be immersed in a beverage inside a container,
such as can 28 (see FIG. 2). The insulating barrier is opened (e.g. by
opening a valve provided in it, or by rupturing a membrane, or in any
other way). The small amount of waler vapour that is above the liquid
water 22 just before the barrier is opened can, when the barrier is
opened, expand into the vacuum. This has an expansion cooling effect.
However, in addition to that, and more significant, is the fact that water
vapour in the chamber 18 can now communicate with the adsorbent material
20 and be adsorbed by it, removing vapour from the chamber 18. More water
vapour evaporates from the liquid 22 to replace that which is adsorbed. In
order to evaporate vapour from the body of liquid 22 it is necessary to
take in heat from the surroundings, chilling the liquid 22, the walls 12
and 16, and hence the beverage that is in contact with those walls.
In fact the pressure above the liquid 22 way be so low that the liquid
boils, effecting very rapid chilling of the beverage. The efficiency of
adsorption may also be such that boiling continues to occur.
Alternatively, the liquid may not truly boil, but may simply evaporate
very quickly indeed.
The liquid in the chamber 18 may be completely evaporated after, say, 5,
10, 15, 20, 30, 40 or more seconds. The adsorbent material may be
saturated before all of the liquid is evaporated.
The performance of the liquid is such that in a standard 440 ml can, or
even 500 ml can, we can expect a temperature drop of the beverage of at
least 10.degree. C., and preferably at least 12.degree., 14.degree.,
16.degree., 18.degree. or even 20.degree. C. We would probably arrange
things such that we do not get a temperature drop of any more than that
20.degree. C. (or even a bigger drop than 15.degree. C.) since we may not
wish to freeze the beverage, at least when that is a malt or fruit liquor
or soft drink.
It will be noted that the membrane 24 is close to the water 22. This
maximises the available heat extraction due to expansion of gas.
As will be seen in FIG. 2, the unit 10 is affixed to the can end 30 and
extends away from it. The openable closure for the can is referenced as
32.
It will be noted in FIG. 2 that there is a head space, referenced 34, which
is about at, and in this example is on or slightly below, the level of the
adsorbent material. The reason for this is because if we use
charcoal/carbon the adsorbent will become hot as it adsorbs water vapour,
and in order to avoid heating the beverage that we are trying to cool we
prefer to provide a relatively large head space. However similarly, in
order to prevent the user experiencing the heat (and possibly burning
themselves) we may well insulate the adsorbent from the can end (or indeed
any part of the can). Again in order to prevent the transfer of heat of
adsorption back down wall 12 of the cooling unit 2 we may provide a
plastic, or other insulating, ring in the wall of the tube, breaking the
metal-to-metal conduction path.
FIG. 3 shows an alternative cooling unit, referenced 36. This is very
similar to that of FIG. 1 except that the tubular can-defining walls of
the unit are defined by two components, a plastics upper component 38
(poor thermal conductor) and a metal lower component 40 (good thermal
conductor). This enables good thermal communication with the beverage at
the region where beat is being extracted --in the region of the liquid
water 32, and yet insulates the area which may make it hot.
In a modification of the arrangement shown in FIG. 3 the plastics component
extends down only about as far as the level of the adsorbent material (so
the metal component comprises the majority of the elongate extent of the
housing that defines the chamber).
So far we have not said how we will open the isolating barrier 24. Any
convenient way of doing this can be provided.
FIGS. 4 to 6 show an arrangement for cooling a beverage 41 (in this case a
soft drink, but it could be beer, or any other drink) which is held in a
container 28.
The cooling unit 10 has the isolating barrier provided about half way down
the tube, and the isolating barrier comprises a one way valve 42. A
bellows-like arrangement 44 is provided extending from the top of the can,
and the compressible bellows actuation means is connected to the one way
valve 42 via a strut or rod 46. The bellows is resiliently urging the rod
46 upwards.
In the arrangement shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 the one way valve is biased to its
closed position, and is open only so long as the user presses down on the
bellows 44. The user can therefore cool the drink to a degree that is
under their own control. If they do not like their drink too cold they can
keep the valve open for less time than if they like the drink colder.
This feature, user-controlled degree of cooling, preferably by having a
manually openable/closable valve is not present in the "rupturable
membrane" barrier systems.
It will be noted that the rod 46 extends through a hole in the adsorbent
carbon block.
FIGS. 7 to 9 show an alternative can 28. In this arrangement the isolating
barrier is opened by the action of opening the can closure 32. The
reduction in pressure above the beverage held in the can, and equally a
reduction in pressure acting on the cooling in it, causes a
pressure-sensitive mechanism to open the isolating barrier.
In this case, the pressure-sensitive mechanism is a spring/biasing means 48
which urges the valve 42 provided in the isolating barrier to its open
position, but which is prevented from moving the valve to its open
position by the pressure in the can when the can is closed. The pressure
in the can acts to keep bellows, this time referenced 50, in an extended
position, until such time as the pressure is reduced when the spring 48
takes over.
Other ways of using the reduction in pressure of the can 28 to open the
isolating barrier include using it to tear an isolating membrane. A
component of the cooling unit could be pressurised by e.g. internal
pressure/bias spring/by pressure-generation means, which pressure is
countered by the above-atmosphere pressure in a closed container. When the
pressure in the container falls to atmospheric pressure, due to the
container being opened, the actuator is actuated, and the isolating
membrane is torn.
FIGS. 10 and 11 show another can cooling system. In this case the cooling
unit, referenced as 100, is a chamber containing water at one end, and a
low pressure/evacuated space above it, and a one way valve/closure
membrane 102 at the other end A screw threaded formation 104 or other
coupling means is included at the top of the elongate body of the unit,
and projects from a drum or keg 228. An attachable and detachable
adsorbent (e.g. carbon) cartridge 106 is also provided with a
complementary screw threaded region 108. The cartridge 106 has a
projection 110 which when the cartridge is moved to an operative position
(in this case screwed on to an operative position) opens the valve, and
allows water vapour to be adsorbed by the adsorbent cartridge.
Having a detachable cartridge may enable the user to use the same cartridge
to chill a plurality of packaged beverages. Alternatively/additionally it
may enable the user to apply more than one cartridge to the same container
so as to chill it more than can be achieved by using a single cartridge.
Alternatively/additionally we may provide the cartridges such that the
user can re-activate them once they have been "spent" by absorbing as much
water/other absorbable as they reasonably can. For example, they could be
re-activated by putting them in an oven and baking out the water, or
chemically.
FIG. 12 shows a cooling unit 10 in which an insulating insert 112 is
provided around the absorbent material 20. It also shows the isolating
barrier 24 provided roughly towards the middle of the elongate tube of the
cooling unit 10.
FIG. 13 shows an arrangement of cooling unit where a top cap of the cooling
unit is provided in a thermal insulating material (e.g. plastics), with
the lower portion 116 being provided in conductive material (usually
metal).
FIG. 13 also shows in dotted outline the cooling "stick" having an
"over-cap" 118 of insulating material which can be provided over a metal
(or plastic) housing to increase the insulation. For example, this may be
used where the housing of the cooling device is predominantly metal, but
has a plastic "washer" in its wall to provide a thermal break.
FIG. 13 also shows the beverage, referenced 120 being above the lowermost
level of the adsorbent material (which is now possible because it is
thermally insulated).
FIG. 14 shows a cartridge 122 of adsorbent material held in a separate
housing (e.g. of steel coated in lacquer, or plastics material) defining a
closed chamber by a "nip" 124. It may be convenient for us to provide the
adsorbent material in a self-contained cartridge and locate/affix this in
the tubular body/other body. In FIG. 14 the tubular body, reference 126
fully encloses the cartridge, but in other embodiments it may seal to it,
and the wall of the cartridge may provide the exterior surface of the
cooling unit. The cartridge 122 may have provided associated with
it/integral with it the isolating barrier. For example, the cartridge may
be moulded in plastics material and may have a thin film moulded in it
which constitutes the isolating barrier. A mechanism may be provided to
break the thin film in order to activate the cooling unit.
FIG. 15 shows a thin breakable membrane 128, comprising the isolating
barrier, provided immediately adjacent the carbon adsorbent material 20,
and shows a plunger 30 that is operated so as to break the membrane so as
to activate the unit.
FIG. 16 shows a housing 132 defining a closed chamber 18, but in this case
the housing is not simply a cylindrical tube. The housing has an enlarged
lower portion 134, which in this example is shown as a hollow disk. The
level of evaporating liquid in the unit before use is roughly the same as
the height of the disk, enlarged, portion of the unit.
The enlarged portion 134 may have greater heat exchange capability with the
surrounding beverage (than a cylinder of uniform cross-section). In order
to improve heat exchange we may provide fins/other surface-area enlarging
structures.
It is probably more important to provide these features/the capability for
a high rate of heat exchange, in the area of the housing that contacts the
liquid water, rather than in an area which only contacts vaporised gas.
FIG. 17 shows another can, referenced 136, in which a plastics insulating
member 138 is attached to the sidewall of the can (for example by
adhesive, such as a two-part adhesive suitable for use in food systems),
and cooler unit 140 is mounted to the side of the can, via the insulating
member 138. Indeed, gluing the self-cooling unit to the can is one way of
attaching it to the can, whatever the shape or arrangement of the unit.
This illustrates that the cooler unit need not necessarily be mounted to
the can end, and need not necessarily have its actuation means provided on
the top or the bottom of the can--it could be at the side of the can, but
we prefer to provide it at the top.
FIG. 17 also shows another enlarged portion of the housing of the cooler
unit.
FIG. 18 shows another can with the cooling unit provided on the bottom of
the can at the base wall. A cooler unit could be provided off-set, as
shown, or centrally, (as shown in dotted out-line). The actuation button
for the cooler unit is received with the closed recess at the base of the
can and does not project beyond the sidewalls of the can. This facilitates
stacking of cans, and reduces the risk of setting the can off
accidentally. A safety pin, or other manually-operable release device may
be provided to prevent accidental triggering of the device.
FIG. 19 shows a combined cooling unit and widget. As will be appreciated,
it is well known to provide devices in cans to help generate a head when
the can is opened, and the contents poured. The mounting of such widgets
to the cans is a problem that has already been solved. We envisage
"piggy-backing" a cooling device on a widget, so that the cooling device
does not have to be separately mounted. This is especially attractive if
the cooling device is operable by a change of pressure. The widget and
cooling device could be an integral combined device.
The widget FIG. 19 is the widget of Bass Plc, and is a plastic "top-hat"
widget having holes at different axially spaced positions, and is adapted
to be glued to the domed base wall of the can. Of course, a metal widget
can be used, or any other widget of any other manufacturer.
We may even provide the cooling device and the widget integrally moulded,
or otherwise formed as one piece. This would reduce manufacturing costs,
and reduce costs in comparison with inserting two separate components as
two separate exercises into the can. This last effect can be achieved by
having two discrete units attached together, and inserting them as a
single unit.
FIG. 20 shows a cooling unit much as described in with reference to other
figures, but constructed as a stand-alone apparatus designed to be
inserted into cans which have been opened (or other containers which are
open). The can in this case could, of course, be a wholly conventional
can.
Similarly, we envisage having kegs of liquor with the facility to insert a
cooler unit of the kind described (albeit on a larger scale Than an in-can
unit for a 440 ml can). This will be especially useful for outdoor events
such as sports events or concerts where it is desired to have a temporary
bar.
We could also envisage having kegs with built-in cooling devices, as well
as "dip-in" cooling devices. For keg-use we would prefer to have the
cooling device re-usable/re-chargeable. Perhaps the used devices could be
detached from the keg and taken away to be recycled/recharged, and a new
cooling device fitted from stock.
FIG. 21 shows a cardboard box 150 provided with twelve cans 152, and two
stand-alone cooling units 154 retained within the box, and this example
retained within the interstices between adjacent cans so as not to be
protruding, and thus prone to damage when the box is closed.
FIG. 22 illustrates a cooling unit 156 which is a stand-alone unit adapted
to be dipped into something to be cooled (e.g. beverage in a glass or a
beverage in a can, or foodstuff, or anything). It has a detachable
cartridge 158 (in this case screw-threadedly detachable, but it could be
push fit any other coupling). We would envisage supplying a plurality of
cartridge 158, a plurality of breakable membranes (unless the cartridge
has a valve mechanism which is re-usable), and the provision to
re-introduce liquid water into the body of the unit so that the whole unit
can be re-used. The cartridges 158 may be re-activatable, for example by
heating in an oven/treating chemically.
FIGS. 23a and 23b show one possibility of actuating a cooler unit. A wall
of a container, reference 160, has a bi-stable portion 162 which can be
moved from a first condition to a second condition manually by a user, and
in so doing moves an element within a can to open the isolating barrier.
To move to the second stable position the bi-stable area 162 maintains the
isolating barrier open. Instead of a bi-stable area the can may simply
have a flexible region.
Alternatively, there may simply be a region provided on a can which can be
flexed by a user (e.g. by his finger or thumb) so as to open/break the
isolating barrier. That region may be returned to its original condition
after it has been flexed (e.g. it may spring back).
One possibility is providing cans, or bottles, of beverage in multi-pack
units having a plurality of containers (e.g. a four-pack of cans held
together at their tops by plastics webbing, or a box of cans or bottles).
We may provide a multi-pack with all of its containers being self-cooling
containers, but we may prefer to provide some of the packaged beverage
containers of the multi-pack as conventional cans/bottles with no
self-cooling ability. The conventional containers may have a head
generation widget. For example, in a four-pack of cans, we may provide
only one can as a self-cooling can, and the other three as normal cans.
The cans (containers) of the multi-pack may all be substantially the same
size, but may not all container the same volume of beverage. For example,
the can or cans with a self-cooling unit inside may have less room for the
beverage and may contain less beverage. One possibility is to have one or
two self-cooling cans with about 270 ml or 300 ml of beverage and the rest
of the multi-pack as cans with about 330 ml, 440 ml or 500 ml of
beverage--i.e. the conventional cans may have about one third more
beverage (or more) in them than the self-cooling cans. In a multi-pack
(e.g. box) of containers with a lot of containers (e.g. 6, 8, 10 or 12) we
may prefer to provide at least two self-cooling containers.
When a customer first buys a pack of cans of beverage, the packaged
beverages often arrive home warm, and it may be advantageous to have one
or two self-cooling cans for immediate consumption whilst the other
conventional cans are put into a refrigerator to cool. By the time that
the supply of self-cooling cans is exhausted, it may be that the
conventional cans have cooled enough to be ready to drink.
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